Ebola Virus Infection

Ebola is a rare but deadly virus that causes fever, body aches, and diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding inside and outside the body. As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, it causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop. This leads to severe, uncontrollable bleeding.

Symptoms #

Early on, Ebola can feel like the flu or other illnesses. Symptoms show up 2 to 21 days after infection and usually include:

• High fever

• Headache

• Joint and muscle aches

• Sore throat

• Weakness

• Stomach pain

• Lack of appetite

• As the disease gets worse, it causes bleeding inside the body, as well as from the eyes, ears, and nose. Some people will vomit or cough up blood, have bloody diarrhea, and get a rash.

Transmission #

• Ebola isn’t as contagious as more common viruses like colds, influenza, or measles.

• It spreads to people by contact with the skin or bodily fluids of an infected animal, like a monkey, chimp, or fruit bat.

• Then it moves from person to person the same way.

• Those who care for a sick person or bury someone who has died from the disease often get it.

• Other ways to get Ebola include touching contaminated needles or surfaces.

• You can’t get Ebola from air, water, or food.

• A person who has Ebola but has no symptoms can’t spread the disease, either.

Diagnosis #

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone. Doctors may test to rule out other diseases like cholera or malaria.

Tests of blood and tissues also can diagnose Ebola.

If you have Ebola, you’ll be isolated from the public immediately to prevent the spread.

Treatment #

There’s no cure for Ebola, though researchers are working on it. There are two drug treatments which have been approved for treating Ebola. Inmazeb is a mixture of three monoclonal antibodies (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn). Ansuvimab-zykl (Ebanga) is a monoclonal antibody given as an injection. It helps block the virus from the cell receptor, preventing its entry into the cell.

Doctors manage the symptoms of Ebola with:

• Fluids and electrolytes

• Oxygen

• Blood pressure medication

• Blood transfusions

• Treatment for other infections

Prevention #

• There’s a vaccine to prevent Ebola, but rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo) only treats the Zaire strain of the virus.

• The best way to avoid catching the disease is by not traveling to areas where the virus is found.

• If you are in areas where Ebola is present, avoid contact with bats, monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas since these animals spread Ebola to people.

• You may be able to get the vaccine from the World Health Organization.

• Health care workers can prevent infection by wearing masks, gloves, and goggles whenever they come into contact with people who may have Ebola.